tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54170395315826536952024-03-05T06:43:59.711-05:00Amanda Atkins in a Canary ForestAmanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.comBlogger856125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-79111838211085702592018-02-26T18:40:00.000-05:002018-02-26T18:40:03.565-05:00Wood Goddess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw5v6OE9uvJfSq2FRd_Rc4MAJyVep4U-bGUnkeSpNN8fNbNDUiV0VULyaJqsmnn1yF_yb1Orf3aKkPslZn682yeLfKBKb-pWIRJy30LHkFyF71mncnE9EqNhHZ5wBXK9ceAN_rzI9qocM/s1600/wood+goddess+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw5v6OE9uvJfSq2FRd_Rc4MAJyVep4U-bGUnkeSpNN8fNbNDUiV0VULyaJqsmnn1yF_yb1Orf3aKkPslZn682yeLfKBKb-pWIRJy30LHkFyF71mncnE9EqNhHZ5wBXK9ceAN_rzI9qocM/s400/wood+goddess+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Wood Goddess"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Acrylic on canvas, 8x10</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This morning, I woke up later than planned. I don't like when that happens, but I always trust that it means my body needed the sleep. When this does happen, even though it is always just late morning, I have a sense of having wasted the day. I try to counter that feeling by doing one productive thing. I decided to make a painting this morning.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A blank canvas board was calling to me from the side of the room. When I paint on canvas, I don't sketch out the picture first - I just dive in. It's funny how we work differently depending on the medium or surface.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIf799Yo0qTSG5J_cr49KqPOLBBHdmS7gW6HeMS2kHrkvl8-gJpwROq_-_00116oRlGo8_JjJ2IZshXggfuIrffwG_YWcw37XxlMib6LggEmIwCHtk8Xs2-upLJuxGHVD3yBisR_KUdSXl/s1600/AA+tree+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIf799Yo0qTSG5J_cr49KqPOLBBHdmS7gW6HeMS2kHrkvl8-gJpwROq_-_00116oRlGo8_JjJ2IZshXggfuIrffwG_YWcw37XxlMib6LggEmIwCHtk8Xs2-upLJuxGHVD3yBisR_KUdSXl/s200/AA+tree+1.jpg" width="111" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahvud6-a9lHioIvEcdDCqvoNyx4_tjsUaB_oISKfhLBQV6rUw6kKs21wyS7nPHY-f5n7M5Myd3XsZr0o1LCBkSgAQXmp0DkqSKFlqyzdZWpdD9pxKotmtAqdHlHKFM8WmNVhJ96L97K_b/s1600/AA+Tree+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahvud6-a9lHioIvEcdDCqvoNyx4_tjsUaB_oISKfhLBQV6rUw6kKs21wyS7nPHY-f5n7M5Myd3XsZr0o1LCBkSgAQXmp0DkqSKFlqyzdZWpdD9pxKotmtAqdHlHKFM8WmNVhJ96L97K_b/s200/AA+Tree+2.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqa-605ju0n8wHqoEkSbeE92laXgsT9nHmq4V0_WUN2dFC0B0vxfpHLeIGRT6xITfhnEuFwBJj8bKsh_FJ9RoxSq-_QMeF_CXoMQGMEb4bIG4getUwxeHNtooSUmHEb1QaAPjTpeCDjq5U/s1600/AA+tree+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqa-605ju0n8wHqoEkSbeE92laXgsT9nHmq4V0_WUN2dFC0B0vxfpHLeIGRT6xITfhnEuFwBJj8bKsh_FJ9RoxSq-_QMeF_CXoMQGMEb4bIG4getUwxeHNtooSUmHEb1QaAPjTpeCDjq5U/s200/AA+tree+3.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xHuhyphenhyphenRoZm6kqVM0iaW8qLuo-EE4SwshbMJ7v2a6AC05EghTbkTB3OFVEtvYZAULKM3qdU6y8M4ofw5EvBcxC4FIEd3VZUMmt2iZoLYuRnMZMJJkbsv7vUjUqFATNOn4McbEXpTZ90zQK/s1600/AA+Tree+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xHuhyphenhyphenRoZm6kqVM0iaW8qLuo-EE4SwshbMJ7v2a6AC05EghTbkTB3OFVEtvYZAULKM3qdU6y8M4ofw5EvBcxC4FIEd3VZUMmt2iZoLYuRnMZMJJkbsv7vUjUqFATNOn4McbEXpTZ90zQK/s200/AA+Tree+4.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVniToH6swo-hUzGUwx5tLlJl73TXbQ468k3b-DjbPLCbpOc5N6-peX3pqiUjyv7TpmYq9H42P6YkHQAyLBrBUwmqLUf8ac_G8w-jrbDO5iNL4dt0TW0R2Bo3YgTzowi0wmaBPMC67o3l/s1600/AA+Tree+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVniToH6swo-hUzGUwx5tLlJl73TXbQ468k3b-DjbPLCbpOc5N6-peX3pqiUjyv7TpmYq9H42P6YkHQAyLBrBUwmqLUf8ac_G8w-jrbDO5iNL4dt0TW0R2Bo3YgTzowi0wmaBPMC67o3l/s200/AA+Tree+5.jpg" width="111" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are some of the trees I've spent time with the past week. I wrote a little bit about it in my description of the piece on Instagram - that woods and trees are the form of nature I am drawn to for a peaceful moment. I've been taking advantage of our local rail trail, which winds for miles and miles through gorgeous forest and marshland.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been enamored with trees for quite some time. Pine and birch make appearances constantly in my early work (2008 - 2012), and then I began to grow enchanted by all kinds of trees and tree-like flora. Cacti and bonsai fill my 2013 - 2016 work, and - most recently - I am drawn to the beauty of petrified wood, drift wood, and tree rings. Found and sustainably sourced wood pieces are something I've enjoyed incorporating into our home.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, this morning when I sat down and began to paint, a few things came to mind: She would have black hair, orange-red lips, moles on her face and neck, and a bendy conifer tree behind her. Work like this often begins with few details, and as soon as I begin, the rest comes to me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Wood Goddess" came to mind, and I surrounded her with different pieces and kinds of wood.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She began simply:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgjOwu_lAZI1KA3mYJytDN0MIq1K_DQTlzqho1MBEuP7ZK5gyaIj_NSWE9zxajLQHVbX4sUXvmBzl2Eo0SIeoyVUqvEAlJvF_DXzPz29JDDgommHRNllAtVL083atil5s6mvb350n2Cv-/s1600/wood+goddess+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgjOwu_lAZI1KA3mYJytDN0MIq1K_DQTlzqho1MBEuP7ZK5gyaIj_NSWE9zxajLQHVbX4sUXvmBzl2Eo0SIeoyVUqvEAlJvF_DXzPz29JDDgommHRNllAtVL083atil5s6mvb350n2Cv-/s400/wood+goddess+2.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and ended a Wood Goddess:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY36kw5UA-MjfDvE-rZcKbaU06T496Lb9L_DytuUKB4tkh0duqVnf2gi3zPPLhVYHNvo9SksmLVqUjOGqkJFQqIaHsT5W2TDseHAxDT04ADmnX91KDn6rz4EydSWwuJYYOGH6I2N2drjtv/s1600/wood+goddess+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY36kw5UA-MjfDvE-rZcKbaU06T496Lb9L_DytuUKB4tkh0duqVnf2gi3zPPLhVYHNvo9SksmLVqUjOGqkJFQqIaHsT5W2TDseHAxDT04ADmnX91KDn6rz4EydSWwuJYYOGH6I2N2drjtv/s1600/wood+goddess+wm.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What kind of nature is your favorite for a peaceful moment of reflection? The ocean, mountains, fields, marshes? I'd love to know.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
XO.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-79663374800418283872018-02-21T20:11:00.001-05:002018-02-21T20:11:29.863-05:00Women's Day Market at Mill No. 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5CY7NMzSoBqrfpgAAl0mEvU0yp6DWr9sEAKNZHznSySxwmI-kzYnMFZGiKVhJ6ws6iSOblHHnlauP0eC8db4KTHLwObzAWh7asRUDwmfiGyK9_bo7DtUy2wn88rAPbLz5Yqfqj9ZUr6h/s1600/27868025_1920462997968306_7269770656350391957_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="698" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5CY7NMzSoBqrfpgAAl0mEvU0yp6DWr9sEAKNZHznSySxwmI-kzYnMFZGiKVhJ6ws6iSOblHHnlauP0eC8db4KTHLwObzAWh7asRUDwmfiGyK9_bo7DtUy2wn88rAPbLz5Yqfqj9ZUr6h/s400/27868025_1920462997968306_7269770656350391957_n.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm really excited to be tabling at <a href="http://millno5.com/">Mill No. 5's</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/974333966057048/">Women's Day Marketplace</a>, hosted by two of my favorite stores (<a href="http://crosenest.com/">Crose Nest</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thedandeliondistrict/">Dandelion District</a>) which happen to be owned by two of my favorite women. This market falls during <a href="https://lowellwomensweek.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/lowell-womens-week-2018-events1.pdf">Lowell's Women's "Week"</a>, which has amazing events all <i>month</i>!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The market is from 12 - 4 on Saturday March 10th - hope you can stop by and say hi, and shop your local women entrepreneurs and creatives!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-13368732516117698762018-02-12T20:00:00.004-05:002018-02-12T20:00:31.117-05:00Peggy Guggenheim<div style="text-align: center;">
Wow, it has been far too long! I'm hoping to get back into blogging on a somewhat regular basis. It's funny how we, or at least myself, need just one outlet (if it's a good one) to express ourselves and share information. I have never been good at using multiple formats to share information, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amandalaurelatkins/">Instagram</a> became my favorite way to share my work and my thoughts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That being said, I love to write. I do it for myself all the time. And I miss that I used to use this dear, beloved blog of mine to share much more than my art. So, I want to jump right in and share a woman I've become fascinated by as of late:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Peggy Guggenheim.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAfLU7jr294yJHKjqlq5a9lvnPuNUybjyfYUl5NSpRK4isjgc1mbPQ3DdgKmtoEiPKySvp2cWtx4KN8vDory7Oo0mAmuktk38hYXgSUtbunLE9xMiOa_7g3xyEhSVw9y78M12WlzPuisZ/s1600/land21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAfLU7jr294yJHKjqlq5a9lvnPuNUybjyfYUl5NSpRK4isjgc1mbPQ3DdgKmtoEiPKySvp2cWtx4KN8vDory7Oo0mAmuktk38hYXgSUtbunLE9xMiOa_7g3xyEhSVw9y78M12WlzPuisZ/s320/land21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've always had an interest in Peggy. After all, she embodies so many things that interest me: the 1940s and 50s, World War II, Mid-Century design, New York City during this time period, women (more specifically, women with careers dedicated to artistic pursuit or a pursuit of similar passion), modern art, making your home a place that is YOURS, and Venice (a beautiful city I had the chance to visit and fell very much in love with).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmUFhYFnbezwXdAIoww2LlgZdKN2cAMNAqEpOb1V3cXwYzYbnAlqar5kjX6mUjhVO8T9KoIVWiUdrOZKD9hOR94vdfEB6Ky-r2Mbw9GkZlnWqNncASM8QGJMOdRQp5ui2NUHGbq-Os3P5/s1600/PEGGY-AND-MAX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmUFhYFnbezwXdAIoww2LlgZdKN2cAMNAqEpOb1V3cXwYzYbnAlqar5kjX6mUjhVO8T9KoIVWiUdrOZKD9hOR94vdfEB6Ky-r2Mbw9GkZlnWqNncASM8QGJMOdRQp5ui2NUHGbq-Os3P5/s320/PEGGY-AND-MAX.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I finally followed this interest like a bloodhound follows a scent and purchased a book. I was entranced by its cover for its retro aesthetic (it almost looks like it could have been published in the 60s), the photo of Peggy on the cover, and because it was a biography praised for painting a colorful and vivid portrait of a person, place, and time. (There's nothing worse than a dry biography. I can never get through them.) This book is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peggy-Guggenheim-Shock-Modern-Jewish/dp/0300203489">"Peggy Guggenheim: The Shock of the Modern"</a> by Francine Prose.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB9JRwkFBY9jcjTPEgG0RC50pNDYvAPg4w2j3PbyrmcmNUwqWazLvnbgfqGvZaXAlrxolPstw-EsArlncbF5huHd97IvRMrroBU_LjbVey9SOFjMOmkCzT26cw4TL9_MCGojBIQgmV1Uu/s1600/peggy%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB9JRwkFBY9jcjTPEgG0RC50pNDYvAPg4w2j3PbyrmcmNUwqWazLvnbgfqGvZaXAlrxolPstw-EsArlncbF5huHd97IvRMrroBU_LjbVey9SOFjMOmkCzT26cw4TL9_MCGojBIQgmV1Uu/s320/peggy%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I learned so much about Peggy that I didn't know. It increased by fascination ten-fold. Here is a woman who used her inheritance to finance and support the lives of several artists and writers and yet still was given a reputation for not being generous with her money. She opened her first gallery, Guggenheim Jeune, in London and went on a mission to buy one painting for sculpture a day to build her collection. World War II arrived not long after this, and Peggy hid her collection in a barn to protect it from Nazi destruction. She shipped her collection (and many European refugee artists) by boat to the United States, where she opened her second gallery "Art of this Century" in NYC. She didn't pursue the arts herself, but dedicated her life to artists.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQl0OM2_InvtgXYTXCVC1zW1DQFhDdQ_N8Si4iMwLDHfWVEVUfjkIIOgsdeSEGxWxWiNG3XXccewFui6e56X39tcr4JkVsLn3J6B_uH2H8iBS7lvTZfAfLngKUDYiS-k5VerEpJZ6I4VE/s1600/Peggy-Guggenheim-in-the-mid-1930s-photo-via-magnetafoundaton.org_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQl0OM2_InvtgXYTXCVC1zW1DQFhDdQ_N8Si4iMwLDHfWVEVUfjkIIOgsdeSEGxWxWiNG3XXccewFui6e56X39tcr4JkVsLn3J6B_uH2H8iBS7lvTZfAfLngKUDYiS-k5VerEpJZ6I4VE/s320/Peggy-Guggenheim-in-the-mid-1930s-photo-via-magnetafoundaton.org_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are varying views of her. The biography I read is a sympathetic one, but was honest about Peggy's personality. Her familial relationships could be tempestuous, but none the less she remained a care-taker of her ex-husbands, their new spouses, and her children.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBCvioVl8ckfCKZnZGGk1hyok3JwM7zY3AaM3YOzI-saD4L_mdK9-nd-x9aUdfmoZOYeI9Syecv9PedUqCOKEhHO7YF503acMbq2TRrdOquAdEm2-Wdh0m0OdFcpRVLTKN3f9x8D_bXqR/s1600/738_054_fara02325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBCvioVl8ckfCKZnZGGk1hyok3JwM7zY3AaM3YOzI-saD4L_mdK9-nd-x9aUdfmoZOYeI9Syecv9PedUqCOKEhHO7YF503acMbq2TRrdOquAdEm2-Wdh0m0OdFcpRVLTKN3f9x8D_bXqR/s320/738_054_fara02325.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Peggy cultivated beauty in her homes and galleries, trusting aesthetic to those she felt knew better than she (though it is her exquisite taste that often led her to find these men and women). Her home featured a headboard designed just for her by Alexander Calder, a Jackson Pollock mural, and several pieces of art from her collection. She displayed her earrings (many made by and gifted to her by artists she helped) on the wall like pieces of art.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWNIOj00okgSRRCs5a7f0WkH8Xi0qm5expArtXUioaf_03RlVI-ez0zz2EekE6ZEs8a2dwHgttF3LcTaeQrgZ-uJiyP_9uh3gjXH0PQTIaNlpRfhos3TlIvCgvA5TSvfGIHahtZ2-cOy5/s1600/540m1_tanguy_orecchini_298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWNIOj00okgSRRCs5a7f0WkH8Xi0qm5expArtXUioaf_03RlVI-ez0zz2EekE6ZEs8a2dwHgttF3LcTaeQrgZ-uJiyP_9uh3gjXH0PQTIaNlpRfhos3TlIvCgvA5TSvfGIHahtZ2-cOy5/s1600/540m1_tanguy_orecchini_298.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These surrealist moonscape earrings were painted for Peggy by Yves Tanguy, an artist she showed at Guggenheim Jeune and with whom she had an affair.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Peggy's love life was vibrant, with many husbands and lovers, almost all of whom were artists. She reveals a lot in her memoir, "Out of this Century," of which there are three different versions. The first version, which she wrote in the back room of Art of This Century, received negative reviews as it was a tell-all about her relationships with little about her life in the art world. The third and final version is a culmination of her relationships, her experience in the arts, her life in New York City, and her life in Venice. I recently bought the book believing it to be the third version, but it turns out my copy is the first. I still plan on reading it and getting all the juicy details.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Peggy also appears in the memoirs, journals, and autobiographies of many other writers and artists. A lot of this is cited in "The Shock of the Modern" and gave me a list of other books I hope to read soon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That is all for now! I hope this inspires some of you to look up Peggy Guggenheim and research her a bit. Such a fascinating and complex woman who gave us so much when it comes to art!</div>
<br />Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-59576907258167789742016-10-24T09:45:00.002-05:002016-10-24T09:45:58.771-05:00Pattern Play!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lately I've been having a lot of fun experimenting with a looser style and</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
creating patterns from these creations. Operating in this style has enabled me to expand the products I offer in <a href="https://society6.com/amandalaurelatkins">my Society6 shop</a>. I now have shower curtains, bedspreads, towels, rugs, and throw blankets in addition to all the fun smaller products in my shop.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZzo1zL2sVFJ5dBs45PjtgmsPk03DBRRYcrKElXr-bAtHHEKZsQUdRozNCfbuO_dVwVODr1XM3xE4EZRgcT64JAnzwjLzU5clNxjszcYCC1GkjwONqgceDYWC1Zbl7JqEi6svjorGCvpo/s1600/volcanoes-at-night-carry-all-pouches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZzo1zL2sVFJ5dBs45PjtgmsPk03DBRRYcrKElXr-bAtHHEKZsQUdRozNCfbuO_dVwVODr1XM3xE4EZRgcT64JAnzwjLzU5clNxjszcYCC1GkjwONqgceDYWC1Zbl7JqEi6svjorGCvpo/s320/volcanoes-at-night-carry-all-pouches.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://society6.com/product/volcanoes-at-night_carry-all-pouch#s6-6079293p51a67v445">"Volcano at Night" 3-set of carry-all pouches</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RFnPYBpnGbfv0vfLKeTi4T1KbBUC4MZzN7tYaTUj71GAsT9tjYJ2yWZ8iqyzOwWWc1lJXgf3RdTWP6Q4mkINe7P_-VWcWGkEULpSWmrB7RQI-UyDhCKOYsrurYo9k2cZLTfm_F2cTEDf/s1600/volcanoes-at-night-duvet-covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RFnPYBpnGbfv0vfLKeTi4T1KbBUC4MZzN7tYaTUj71GAsT9tjYJ2yWZ8iqyzOwWWc1lJXgf3RdTWP6Q4mkINe7P_-VWcWGkEULpSWmrB7RQI-UyDhCKOYsrurYo9k2cZLTfm_F2cTEDf/s320/volcanoes-at-night-duvet-covers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://society6.com/product/volcanoes-at-night_duvet-cover#s6-6079293p38a46v343">"Volcano at Night" duvet cover</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR6vIpVEOxMUkyH8nb4i105j2ctpIxkpy-18J8JdLGXEvIXTY2jb3RKwe4TKMCsVPDqtHCnpdKgUuX6hIsH-ID7DB6toU6J-9S_D2gGDDeLVxWcVCSxSOy4yZNbrv0W90QahB-9tyWBIK/s1600/volcanoes-at-night-wall-clocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBR6vIpVEOxMUkyH8nb4i105j2ctpIxkpy-18J8JdLGXEvIXTY2jb3RKwe4TKMCsVPDqtHCnpdKgUuX6hIsH-ID7DB6toU6J-9S_D2gGDDeLVxWcVCSxSOy4yZNbrv0W90QahB-9tyWBIK/s320/volcanoes-at-night-wall-clocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://society6.com/product/volcanoes-at-night_wall-clock#s6-6079293p33a33v282a34v285">"Volcano at Night" clock</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydh9KIhtZQ8rfA8gxAF3fbupHsqjdqofllfTHIhJPsJV2E9PKf1lkH5cp7yME64zA0JFdwW6hBlbkRTN3ABeKJT9mhb7kDKxl4vsx5VlEohO7ScL75RqA9MjFYxhegbTmQlO-NeNlxNgN/s1600/volcanoes-at-night-shower-curtains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydh9KIhtZQ8rfA8gxAF3fbupHsqjdqofllfTHIhJPsJV2E9PKf1lkH5cp7yME64zA0JFdwW6hBlbkRTN3ABeKJT9mhb7kDKxl4vsx5VlEohO7ScL75RqA9MjFYxhegbTmQlO-NeNlxNgN/s320/volcanoes-at-night-shower-curtains.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://society6.com/product/volcanoes-at-night_shower-curtain#s6-6079293p34a35v287">"Volcano at Night" shower curtain</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhxNmvu4mqn3pvCA1g_X04vJP-VwWZt2t6hDdd9dKsQP5neY2uBaboGaKaVVQaMcauQBWGvDCYVUwxgrLUnmkt8n7N1rPNbc3Ux9mNZ-TKo7hdoKoRFtO1OS9M81sQwPKMG-0ce6RcdMc/s1600/starburst-in-flame-bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhxNmvu4mqn3pvCA1g_X04vJP-VwWZt2t6hDdd9dKsQP5neY2uBaboGaKaVVQaMcauQBWGvDCYVUwxgrLUnmkt8n7N1rPNbc3Ux9mNZ-TKo7hdoKoRFtO1OS9M81sQwPKMG-0ce6RcdMc/s320/starburst-in-flame-bags.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://society6.com/product/starburst-in-flame_bag#s6-6070346p29a26v196">"Starburst in Flame" tote bag</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztprZCRT6fH0lpsxkyrpELldFBtfM6N5I9GPxANbynkKHuHDYcKEc-NFO9DPLEpFdxeqM-GhAN8WikpoBvElGoamul0J7GwgarbUTTYt85FNGWK_xTkgiQx9uxHRI1a52I7INhPvLpAW0/s1600/starburst-in-flame-cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztprZCRT6fH0lpsxkyrpELldFBtfM6N5I9GPxANbynkKHuHDYcKEc-NFO9DPLEpFdxeqM-GhAN8WikpoBvElGoamul0J7GwgarbUTTYt85FNGWK_xTkgiQx9uxHRI1a52I7INhPvLpAW0/s320/starburst-in-flame-cards.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://society6.com/product/starburst-in-flame_cards#s6-6070346p22a16v71">"Starburst in Flame notecard</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe2Ymc9uv1Eu9KwqBTQaDDg7yxl9dBJj5iOE-Ai2RP_9hay80WHW1GO1_SpMBvLK83GdtjUS4M1YrV7FpwA-cUU7U4kPysP8KcRNC0qoUx8Po0LtkSWPZMfLA8lUXsFlvTxH40pG0B8O-/s1600/starburst-in-flame-phone-skins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe2Ymc9uv1Eu9KwqBTQaDDg7yxl9dBJj5iOE-Ai2RP_9hay80WHW1GO1_SpMBvLK83GdtjUS4M1YrV7FpwA-cUU7U4kPysP8KcRNC0qoUx8Po0LtkSWPZMfLA8lUXsFlvTxH40pG0B8O-/s320/starburst-in-flame-phone-skins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://society6.com/product/starburst-in-flame_phone-skin#s6-6070346p13a3v380">"Starburst in Flame" phone skin</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxD1sxDwTr8ldytMRGPADCNj7YSSnqs5Kb6ctODFp72A8-rPkFCttG5zp_XXrXt1dToSjeP7LstkBuZXLnbjv7_LPbbuoeEtJeBRFemPpdLypPd8xbXulvtrL1lcshgxIvO3Mk24VvJkP/s1600/starburst-in-flame-pillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxD1sxDwTr8ldytMRGPADCNj7YSSnqs5Kb6ctODFp72A8-rPkFCttG5zp_XXrXt1dToSjeP7LstkBuZXLnbjv7_LPbbuoeEtJeBRFemPpdLypPd8xbXulvtrL1lcshgxIvO3Mk24VvJkP/s320/starburst-in-flame-pillows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://society6.com/product/starburst-in-flame_pillow#s6-6070346p26a18v126a25v193">"Starburst in Flame" throw pillow</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Is everyone having a good fall? The weather has been so inconsistent, but I love the classic cool autumn days.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
xo,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-8931292239665904352016-09-27T21:23:00.000-05:002016-09-27T21:23:17.148-05:00Bedrooms Coloring Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IJRS4y5jPnnmTLLLroXSDt90J4hunlEdX7lnyF4zVbJa55UZFNr-RG3Mmd2m2l89vZCpS-PVmAMiQu8tmhLyIibd6PWP54DABh1uwpOp05RzV8wuRnqQZfshCEVuSlLtCEp3nyfXZAjQ/s1600/Bedrooms+Trident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IJRS4y5jPnnmTLLLroXSDt90J4hunlEdX7lnyF4zVbJa55UZFNr-RG3Mmd2m2l89vZCpS-PVmAMiQu8tmhLyIibd6PWP54DABh1uwpOp05RzV8wuRnqQZfshCEVuSlLtCEp3nyfXZAjQ/s400/Bedrooms+Trident.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm so excited to announce my official event for my coloring book, <a href="http://www.pomegranate.com/cbk008.html">Bedrooms</a>! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On Thursday November 3rd from 7 to 10 pm, I'll be having a coloring party and signing at <a href="http://tridentbookscafe.com/">Trident Booksellers and Cafe</a> on Newbury Street in Boston.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tickets are $10 and include entry, three free sample pages from Bedrooms, and coloring supplies to hang out and color with! If you purchase the book, I'll be there to sign and personalize it. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tickets can be purchased <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coloring-night-with-amanda-laurel-atkins-tickets-28054248011?aff=es2">here</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hope to see you there!<br />xo, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-65709950788761312082016-06-25T09:54:00.000-05:002016-06-25T09:54:10.766-05:00Bedrooms!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwffEn3kahcQ-KfLh-lBIHfYvB4IB6xG5ONO7hWf-M4khTuJ8sFOVDd-d5JBSh-We9gl2cKTvJurS0eMGtLRJ9AGTrDs5m-2DTRUn3CWuRWJJ-wGgp4M9RHFp1k_6Iu9EVTE-SDDJCi90u/s1600/BEDROOMS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwffEn3kahcQ-KfLh-lBIHfYvB4IB6xG5ONO7hWf-M4khTuJ8sFOVDd-d5JBSh-We9gl2cKTvJurS0eMGtLRJ9AGTrDs5m-2DTRUn3CWuRWJJ-wGgp4M9RHFp1k_6Iu9EVTE-SDDJCi90u/s400/BEDROOMS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello everyone!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted. I know that the satisfaction I get from the community on Instagram has kind of filled the place of that which I used to get from my blog, but I really do miss being here, writing, documenting. I am determined to return to regular posting, and in the upcoming months I am making the transition into full-time artist and I know that will allow me to do so.<br />For now, here are some updates! My coloring book, Bedrooms, is finally out with <a href="http://www.pomegranate.com/">Pomegranate</a>! This book has been such a labor of love for me and I am so happy to finally see it in print. You can purchase it directly from Pomegranate <a href="http://www.pomegranate.com/cbk008.html">here</a>, and I also have some <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/400911097/bedrooms-signed-coloring-book?ref=shop_home_feat_1">signed copies available in my etsy shop</a>. It's also in stores, though I cannot tell you which ones when it comes to national locations! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb2CoHZ2ZX-27xkGil1uRtAFFTHwWZBiyY7KDl5yluU9Moz4TSPQwistNOa8MpQ9vI8S1W9GvFBpAyWgi6-fRleUwyu4hdRER0ldqGtx4-6nNHMKSRrAu2Vcegso0sPQ4b1Dsc839phlP/s1600/website+update.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb2CoHZ2ZX-27xkGil1uRtAFFTHwWZBiyY7KDl5yluU9Moz4TSPQwistNOa8MpQ9vI8S1W9GvFBpAyWgi6-fRleUwyu4hdRER0ldqGtx4-6nNHMKSRrAu2Vcegso0sPQ4b1Dsc839phlP/s320/website+update.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also gave my website a much-needed update! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hope you're all having a lovely start to summer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'll be back soon.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Love, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-71018135696831387052016-02-11T10:32:00.001-05:002016-02-11T10:32:07.318-05:00The Calm Below<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPRKgu5BP-J1ABG040ptjoI7IoGMrputSeHpX427fR_Et_uhFEmUlr2rkRrcUqrd4emEVAaNKCD41jmejv8yS3BMbHxOQEBqk4QX_EPf372xwe8A2b9yDxO4jnHemqzpXiiPMF6SjqjdR/s1600/atkins+calm+below+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPRKgu5BP-J1ABG040ptjoI7IoGMrputSeHpX427fR_Et_uhFEmUlr2rkRrcUqrd4emEVAaNKCD41jmejv8yS3BMbHxOQEBqk4QX_EPf372xwe8A2b9yDxO4jnHemqzpXiiPMF6SjqjdR/s400/atkins+calm+below+wm.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Calm Below</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Acrylic on Masonite, 11x14"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bLCPp_eRlhYOi21KpJjUCuTtWqUNg2l_zUo2t_ytXeuPLlKWM0QYcTkj62y6HwPmAZdV3kWU_blO7sVXtfBg25LOOdZ7tF3exm6Xi908xOldNKI1CWXkUIe07Gc61TTfb6m3dOoxAopj/s1600/atkins+calm+below+wm3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bLCPp_eRlhYOi21KpJjUCuTtWqUNg2l_zUo2t_ytXeuPLlKWM0QYcTkj62y6HwPmAZdV3kWU_blO7sVXtfBg25LOOdZ7tF3exm6Xi908xOldNKI1CWXkUIe07Gc61TTfb6m3dOoxAopj/s400/atkins+calm+below+wm3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs_Gu7Iif1pI7k0CuKoeJRoBcVjlnWwPfsXeAEurNLcPoNzd4zO8CERwqM-XG0W2WxF5Yav8cGBLXz6nps4zMAbmos_E5yXgHvv7NEm6__PWxALuHAEPBaHmhXqSQZWz-4mGrv1SqHCA9/s1600/atkins+calm+below+wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs_Gu7Iif1pI7k0CuKoeJRoBcVjlnWwPfsXeAEurNLcPoNzd4zO8CERwqM-XG0W2WxF5Yav8cGBLXz6nps4zMAbmos_E5yXgHvv7NEm6__PWxALuHAEPBaHmhXqSQZWz-4mGrv1SqHCA9/s400/atkins+calm+below+wm2.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have to admit, I was horrified when I looked at my blog today and saw that it has been almost a full year since I last posted! So much has happened, and it has gone unshared here. Instagram has definitely become my main platform for sharing work. It's quick and informal and on my phone and I love it, so it's become all too easy to forget other forms of social media.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I miss this blog. It's truly been the keeper and tracker of every little success I've had thus far in my art career, big or small. I'm going to try to post here once a week. That is my new goal.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, I will be back soon. Happy Valentine's Day!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-11056770345917139662015-02-19T15:18:00.001-05:002015-02-19T15:18:34.507-05:00Shop Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are some new things in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/amandaatkins">my etsy shop</a>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0qbh7xLdput_7_-U2GKx3nOj1-9ypuvazOxHJEKZ2K7wzfQoKgD8Y9MMdwihGPUq1Mq7BHr9yZ9ZE5I2IDiAnT-qGWDFZxijmnOwyY_pKMSMro2-mmjsAbLyhW5l-TZ0ZK0Xl52xhonM/s1600/painting+promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0qbh7xLdput_7_-U2GKx3nOj1-9ypuvazOxHJEKZ2K7wzfQoKgD8Y9MMdwihGPUq1Mq7BHr9yZ9ZE5I2IDiAnT-qGWDFZxijmnOwyY_pKMSMro2-mmjsAbLyhW5l-TZ0ZK0Xl52xhonM/s1600/painting+promo.jpg" height="640" width="312" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These new watercolors (measuring 4.25 x 5.5" each) are listed in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/amandaatkins?section_id=7815700&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2">Original Paintings</a> section of my shop</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aBcrnZ__7x3f9Akc-sb82BuAN1eWipZcEOJe2eULGmTrOHFH5hTqVyUl5-uG5KBCPnJ1ctyEZEUMMCvis6ugz3rEPX7zosJ8Qr-tdlGZ4TbawxaYzjSjTPHAy23hNLbpV83jKwI9ympW/s1600/pizza+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aBcrnZ__7x3f9Akc-sb82BuAN1eWipZcEOJe2eULGmTrOHFH5hTqVyUl5-uG5KBCPnJ1ctyEZEUMMCvis6ugz3rEPX7zosJ8Qr-tdlGZ4TbawxaYzjSjTPHAy23hNLbpV83jKwI9ympW/s1600/pizza+wm.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and my "I Love Pizza" girl is now an 8x10 print in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/amandaatkins?section_id=5035755&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1">Signed Prints</a> section.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy mid-February!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xo, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-50683592152137813122015-02-13T22:25:00.003-05:002015-02-13T22:26:03.501-05:00the elephant valentines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvweKgqRO1-a8eRQb5d33QdMRlGu5YRrvPhPChD1wBGyeJAhXGda8ah1zpdnUkW-JCnSqMnzYgPt3_WOgkL3woAjddGdt3o8fNclskqBA1B-C9fAxJSFIVZOlkKr93XceJRwmFot2KYGaP/s1600/Cummings+-+Valentine+to+Marion+Morehouse+(3rd%2Bwife).PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvweKgqRO1-a8eRQb5d33QdMRlGu5YRrvPhPChD1wBGyeJAhXGda8ah1zpdnUkW-JCnSqMnzYgPt3_WOgkL3woAjddGdt3o8fNclskqBA1B-C9fAxJSFIVZOlkKr93XceJRwmFot2KYGaP/s1600/Cummings+-+Valentine+to+Marion+Morehouse+(3rd%2Bwife).PNG" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As you've perhaps noticed over the years, I like to commemorate Valentine's Day on this blog by sharing what I call "the elephant valentines."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Elephant Valentines were hand-painted (or sometimes hand-crayoned) valentines created by e. e. cummings for his wife, <a href="http://theredlist.com/wiki-2-24-525-528-1332-view-1920s-6-profile-marion-morehouse.html">Marion Morehouse</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There is so much to love about these valentines: the ever-present elephant, who seems, to me, to be a symbol of friendship, loyalty, playfulness, and gentleness; the beautiful, painterly, made-by-hand, labor of love quality; the simplicity and the tradition.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Valentine's Day will forever for me be an <a href="http://elephants.com/">elephant</a> holiday, thanks to e. e. cummings. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hope that you all have a beautiful February 14th, no matter how you celebrate!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Love, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-18184943848940249052015-02-08T20:24:00.002-05:002015-02-08T20:24:50.352-05:00Local Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1bKNJxwWQIqP8abLwVp5G3hHPXTwoS1qJqk18IqMPzwxivMIcr9PEDP3UBTnnYWzEQgLJyyG1rtQ0wvquy7DR1jU7uA2o_qXNf44LInGZgJKLN6fuJKZBKZRYbNIbSdkhi38wAzeO1VT/s1600/BCAE1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1bKNJxwWQIqP8abLwVp5G3hHPXTwoS1qJqk18IqMPzwxivMIcr9PEDP3UBTnnYWzEQgLJyyG1rtQ0wvquy7DR1jU7uA2o_qXNf44LInGZgJKLN6fuJKZBKZRYbNIbSdkhi38wAzeO1VT/s1600/BCAE1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I tabled at the <a href="http://www.bcae.org/">BCAE's</a> second annual Local Love pop-up shop. Snow threatened to put a damper on the day, but wonderful people braved the weather to come out and shop. I want to give a heart-felt thank you to all who came!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U09sp6dY_w3-BQ8r_2aIUBV9ZuYYPt2nBxocbwmSmUarvMPackvnN19RRL6FHltxcvCSpnPMMJKgH3bJCskqn3ETSeoIdzjkkfq7q7ZMD5gyz_M6YA3691vPfxne57GrXOnQ8jJekaQK/s1600/BCAE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U09sp6dY_w3-BQ8r_2aIUBV9ZuYYPt2nBxocbwmSmUarvMPackvnN19RRL6FHltxcvCSpnPMMJKgH3bJCskqn3ETSeoIdzjkkfq7q7ZMD5gyz_M6YA3691vPfxne57GrXOnQ8jJekaQK/s1600/BCAE2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is my super cute and talented friend Alaina, who just began her calligraphy and paper goods business, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ExtrasbyAlaina">Extras by Alaina</a>. It was so fun to have a friend nearby.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fW2cjFpU3IybpqsPmvwwwWYw6bVsPz41NdHbYZgJlMY8IT6tk-E6u0FYJJOaCvkLeXCegJM7t2eXvIQ1fV6IF8nK-9GSxfXEGSmxm2HwRhRkkRo6FI-VQLbaQbGXNRkNF4WDYygWV4bi/s1600/BCAE3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fW2cjFpU3IybpqsPmvwwwWYw6bVsPz41NdHbYZgJlMY8IT6tk-E6u0FYJJOaCvkLeXCegJM7t2eXvIQ1fV6IF8nK-9GSxfXEGSmxm2HwRhRkkRo6FI-VQLbaQbGXNRkNF4WDYygWV4bi/s1600/BCAE3.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHfsL1hf9PIDtoRQaqULp74faNZa7Rpihgl9A23imPEwkI_yNIXkG69I_vBHF3GIUPn97CxZM2_7J6XonQf5AaeVM3D-E_lpZgRZwSbJGsQJBUkhR8tYLgZXbiBBgoF5TPzn9eVzDuWrm/s1600/BCAE4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHfsL1hf9PIDtoRQaqULp74faNZa7Rpihgl9A23imPEwkI_yNIXkG69I_vBHF3GIUPn97CxZM2_7J6XonQf5AaeVM3D-E_lpZgRZwSbJGsQJBUkhR8tYLgZXbiBBgoF5TPzn9eVzDuWrm/s1600/BCAE4.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I taught portrait painting in this room a few years ago. It was enchanting to teach here. I had found out that Sylvia Plath had taken poetry courses at the BCAE long ago and it thrilled me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_0ZjTDNrHVfpBc6Al63GoUXkplts_Y7feLpOvstYOPmMMnaEGGAQmXRtPZ1hgz68jI60HfrmYHN0PByl_9fqg1J3uBfXZ8WmU1YPVij2EmVLFj_D7jE1NqH6FsBOd7-QlSZjoWTp6-wy/s1600/BCAE5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_0ZjTDNrHVfpBc6Al63GoUXkplts_Y7feLpOvstYOPmMMnaEGGAQmXRtPZ1hgz68jI60HfrmYHN0PByl_9fqg1J3uBfXZ8WmU1YPVij2EmVLFj_D7jE1NqH6FsBOd7-QlSZjoWTp6-wy/s1600/BCAE5.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I spent the day prior to the show back home at my parents' so I could finish up some ideas. I really love the task of making. I found the above gold oval frame at Saver's and thought that my new whale girl would be perfect in it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe4fFLPNQko5HMjqxf2RJb7bJ6wnjTjTBdrl5hdczzJZPMQzgn9iBYzShoEOSDqtvC071gHJSGTu1tn_eUEWzsMfTajHvuH02gsrv3rdE4ekAfrQ6X_Mo_WST43kPBfXcq9d4ZKMbIyGw/s1600/BCAE7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe4fFLPNQko5HMjqxf2RJb7bJ6wnjTjTBdrl5hdczzJZPMQzgn9iBYzShoEOSDqtvC071gHJSGTu1tn_eUEWzsMfTajHvuH02gsrv3rdE4ekAfrQ6X_Mo_WST43kPBfXcq9d4ZKMbIyGw/s1600/BCAE7.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also relished the fact that I was going to be in a Valentine's Day show (I love Valentine's Day!) and, for the first time ever, crafted some valentines with my artwork.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYFMuu8R9rrb7rIOnxytRLc-1oouNnj5tcUwnY3jnWmYZAI9xuSmkifXwV0kZ6e_1xT4SbZ7MEVDqC-MJgRooo73GPdSRL4yoEIHXQwfoNurarEog2u-KuFqFJrBol17764mDieNAjfL-/s1600/BCAE8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYFMuu8R9rrb7rIOnxytRLc-1oouNnj5tcUwnY3jnWmYZAI9xuSmkifXwV0kZ6e_1xT4SbZ7MEVDqC-MJgRooo73GPdSRL4yoEIHXQwfoNurarEog2u-KuFqFJrBol17764mDieNAjfL-/s1600/BCAE8.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you all had a beautiful weekend!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xo, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-12368602302145949792015-01-05T22:41:00.000-05:002015-01-05T22:41:55.892-05:00paper cranes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFh_Ke2vaFTsxlmMZEoPywZ1Z2M7W7a9FLTpkBygSJ1_yPx0iH3Xoc8FDQJoMMliEdpFX3bwLbT5lA9_nVdP8uKT9UAfF5LllCT_dRfAlj3YWCoicEAUI3U4FZy5X8-qbCxGN90oYnQat/s1600/10885311_10152473876241536_2711120753896301415_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFh_Ke2vaFTsxlmMZEoPywZ1Z2M7W7a9FLTpkBygSJ1_yPx0iH3Xoc8FDQJoMMliEdpFX3bwLbT5lA9_nVdP8uKT9UAfF5LllCT_dRfAlj3YWCoicEAUI3U4FZy5X8-qbCxGN90oYnQat/s1600/10885311_10152473876241536_2711120753896301415_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My painting "Prelude to a peaceable detachment" is featured on the cover of the <a href="http://readpapernautilus.wordpress.com/">Paper Nautilus</a> 2014 poetry review. I received a copy in the mail, and it is a silky-smooth book in paperback size. I love it. :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am thrilled any time my art gets to be combined with the genius of other people's literature. Books and the written word are great loves of mine. My biggest thank you to Paper Nautilus for making me part of their anthology.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xo, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-34685006441332553152014-11-21T21:02:00.000-05:002014-11-21T21:02:01.185-05:00Bust Craftacular is here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tomorrow is the <a href="http://bust.com/">Bust Magazine</a> <a href="http://bust.com/boston/bust-craftacular-boston.html">Bust Craftacular</a> holiday fair at the Cyclorama Center in Boston's South End from 11 am to 6 pm! I am SO excited!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0pS5ZtCiRLUXL6uFdY5-Wui6QqgKLUyYVMk5os1219nnAvkTcxOVSmCUXhA8XQawUF8irebiqWiHq3t5_V5ENjKVyZx9UL21QGrANsqDqiooH-8h8wyJVVzZhBcgyNlpUc1AajW24f6q/s1600/IMG_5823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0pS5ZtCiRLUXL6uFdY5-Wui6QqgKLUyYVMk5os1219nnAvkTcxOVSmCUXhA8XQawUF8irebiqWiHq3t5_V5ENjKVyZx9UL21QGrANsqDqiooH-8h8wyJVVzZhBcgyNlpUc1AajW24f6q/s1600/IMG_5823.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love to make special things for each fair I do. For this one, I did a limited edition of 5 hand-watercolored prints. I had so much fun making each one different.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKChcV_ZHDNavYy2E_wCh-ktYvWxiHG3ukPb82fdzTYg2muAg9PjmLqZNqpM31WS289OAx0Kg-vpZSBzOBqZFcAO5HcMC-BfyLBbZCf8cD99k3mzQNfyqgkHjTLkuTudCKyI4jRPJM8p1H/s1600/Bust+Craftacular2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKChcV_ZHDNavYy2E_wCh-ktYvWxiHG3ukPb82fdzTYg2muAg9PjmLqZNqpM31WS289OAx0Kg-vpZSBzOBqZFcAO5HcMC-BfyLBbZCf8cD99k3mzQNfyqgkHjTLkuTudCKyI4jRPJM8p1H/s1600/Bust+Craftacular2.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And new post card packs! "Flora and Fauna in Technicolor."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gGBL_VWLOOc8VKB1wuQWEvnfmgWGln9-jd79eUbiQ99aweuU3BhsrWOtdR_b6mcG8miKDjerNjrfmJusfcVfRQzwRE4TxV9mf3gn9gRWY8U8j8cddia22RS68TuCbxDesqdxYVXxmi3k/s1600/Bust+Craftacular1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gGBL_VWLOOc8VKB1wuQWEvnfmgWGln9-jd79eUbiQ99aweuU3BhsrWOtdR_b6mcG8miKDjerNjrfmJusfcVfRQzwRE4TxV9mf3gn9gRWY8U8j8cddia22RS68TuCbxDesqdxYVXxmi3k/s1600/Bust+Craftacular1.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And lots and lots of double-sided ornaments, per usual.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you're in the area, you should come by! They are creating a cat cafe with adoptable cats from <a href="http://www.brokentailrescue.org/">Broken Tail Rescue</a>. That is my favorite part, I think.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xo, Amanda</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-8897878490258190772014-11-02T23:05:00.002-05:002014-11-02T23:05:24.004-05:00animals and literature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hvuFrZuOk2M-zLMkcAWhLZeYMo91LMdZZdhefmDmeofrYqTw_diln9GYtotoAb1q7c_YAtzB-j11iT5Eq7EdYRv3aubg-iYPZB9gMO2hiN2_qEHOdh68MdmSSHc3jBaDMWHCMIf7eN_m/s1600/glvbx+artist+of+month.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hvuFrZuOk2M-zLMkcAWhLZeYMo91LMdZZdhefmDmeofrYqTw_diln9GYtotoAb1q7c_YAtzB-j11iT5Eq7EdYRv3aubg-iYPZB9gMO2hiN2_qEHOdh68MdmSSHc3jBaDMWHCMIf7eN_m/s1600/glvbx+artist+of+month.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Boston-based arts organization <a href="http://glvbx.com/">Glovebox</a> has made me the November Artist of the Month, and my little <a href="http://glvbx.com/artist-interview-amanda-laurel-atkins/">interview</a> is up now. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thank you so much, Glovebox, for making November (my birthday month, the orange month) even more special.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
xo, Amanda</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-43083919325163478452014-08-19T14:32:00.001-05:002014-08-19T14:32:48.997-05:00First Annual Art Walk in the Park in Cambridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This upcoming Sunday!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwev3sjI7AWdCGJO3VkP4ucyZgBcKr6YTzZGNCI-lwAU4RVOVN84G-fkuVfy3RQciaMbirPqdco8NnACN_uheccz475DC-5khb6Ez4xKQRzLM5u1lhH2e-oLMiQWvRdTnl07oaPwwSVcKr/s1600/10574293_280594985458511_8518100959808877724_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwev3sjI7AWdCGJO3VkP4ucyZgBcKr6YTzZGNCI-lwAU4RVOVN84G-fkuVfy3RQciaMbirPqdco8NnACN_uheccz475DC-5khb6Ez4xKQRzLM5u1lhH2e-oLMiQWvRdTnl07oaPwwSVcKr/s1600/10574293_280594985458511_8518100959808877724_n.jpg" height="640" width="414" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On Sunday, August 24th, I'll be selling my prints and post cards alongside some of my favorite Boston artists! Held in MIT's University Park Common in Cambridge from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. I'm especially excited for this event because I get to contribute coloring pages to a kid's table, and there will be food trucks!!!! Come by and say hi! :)</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-60970189125186458522014-07-31T20:21:00.000-05:002014-07-31T20:21:46.265-05:00see the jungle when it's wet with rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These two new paper dolls are available in my etsy shop now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZEydB5dTKxxWpi_yzA46XTfhnVj9008qSJe5VagzBtm8PBRfX-sL8Le86sXfqeXq3AGc2kClLdAbju8m787qOC2owyN8BYThOwc88EisaKGy7_pGvnKn70A4LedKw6BAvgT9MXqKPL8T/s1600/Sadie+paper+doll+wm1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZEydB5dTKxxWpi_yzA46XTfhnVj9008qSJe5VagzBtm8PBRfX-sL8Le86sXfqeXq3AGc2kClLdAbju8m787qOC2owyN8BYThOwc88EisaKGy7_pGvnKn70A4LedKw6BAvgT9MXqKPL8T/s1600/Sadie+paper+doll+wm1.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/197531252/sadie-of-the-sea-paper-doll-by-amanda?ref=listing-shop-header-0">Sadie of the Sea</a> paper doll</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPPc2QpZcqVwaB1Ylby1JY_1ebuEJP83dKYPH5x_IqkfxzCwIqHwN80UIU1IlriZtvtGZ7wxUsJQHdqQJndarY3Nt60HXOaJzckqp7QCI9Elztfv_yFckY7kBeMjAfqcWKqkLK1JlUCP3/s1600/Eliza+paperdoll+wm1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPPc2QpZcqVwaB1Ylby1JY_1ebuEJP83dKYPH5x_IqkfxzCwIqHwN80UIU1IlriZtvtGZ7wxUsJQHdqQJndarY3Nt60HXOaJzckqp7QCI9Elztfv_yFckY7kBeMjAfqcWKqkLK1JlUCP3/s1600/Eliza+paperdoll+wm1.jpg" height="400" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/197532280/eliza-the-explorer-paper-doll-by-amanda?ref=shop_home_active_10">Eliza the Explorer</a> paper doll</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
--</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you all have a wonderful first day of August!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-92077914172589113922014-07-27T13:47:00.004-05:002014-07-27T13:47:59.281-05:00website unveiling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74WBSN7kJds9E-97JD3rSy73ID9kHveNC7G2XXEqDRFbc-YRx8bp6ziD9RJqDZ_138pyKcbo9mLkojEH-YE-vTQ74bCc4ZEGVl_-4CFE2U6n7ZGFbsFD_jjCDS1m0wzMhyphenhyphen3A4Qe6JYJYG/s1600/website+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74WBSN7kJds9E-97JD3rSy73ID9kHveNC7G2XXEqDRFbc-YRx8bp6ziD9RJqDZ_138pyKcbo9mLkojEH-YE-vTQ74bCc4ZEGVl_-4CFE2U6n7ZGFbsFD_jjCDS1m0wzMhyphenhyphen3A4Qe6JYJYG/s1600/website+image.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After all this time, I finally have a legit <a href="http://www.amandaatkins.com/">website</a>! My domain name of amandaatkins.com used to lead to this blog; this blog is now merely amandaatkins.blogspot.com. A weird, little change in my (sentimental) art life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The truth is that things have changed so much in the promotion department since I started keeping this blog. This used to be my main way of communicating with people who liked my art. Now things like facebook pages, instagram, and twitter have taken the place of old-fashioned blogging.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As someone who spent her whole life journaling and drawing in sketchbooks and being obsessed with writers, I do love the sort of notebook-quality of a blog that holds everything together in one place.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I take comfort in knowing that this blog will never end. Even if no one were ever to read it again, I think I'd still post just for my own sense of keeping track of things. :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here's to change, and here's to blogs, and here's to you guys for reading it, especially those of you who have been reading it for years. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All my love,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-83390066229108659012014-06-27T15:37:00.004-05:002014-06-27T15:37:51.952-05:00Silver-plated<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRipRgPrKl-aR8Opzg7dcKyRfhY3o3w3tswZKYCD0gy1e1Ed9esfjeiBNGczRDBCk0w-k5WJ77OT-krq8O7xwZko-CmZFsAwIwMZE3-1TIdp_9tGFn9gj6IExeV9kYr0fgzT3EXhQUqSP/s1600/Creature+wm1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRipRgPrKl-aR8Opzg7dcKyRfhY3o3w3tswZKYCD0gy1e1Ed9esfjeiBNGczRDBCk0w-k5WJ77OT-krq8O7xwZko-CmZFsAwIwMZE3-1TIdp_9tGFn9gj6IExeV9kYr0fgzT3EXhQUqSP/s1600/Creature+wm1.jpg" height="400" width="315" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Creature of faith</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
acrylic on masonite, 11x14"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggq86hNAqVtr7jksEA8fH0yJEuEnF7L-wPPMPCRFQ5rZEThlo_B7kGg7dBebl9HXzEVtgHMEURr3svhRyunQ8bcj6i8BbEv1DnXo32xRVrKS7Y8dnLF-QfJOVhb-rVEGhbU0-TnFtQW3qA/s1600/Creature+of+Faith+wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggq86hNAqVtr7jksEA8fH0yJEuEnF7L-wPPMPCRFQ5rZEThlo_B7kGg7dBebl9HXzEVtgHMEURr3svhRyunQ8bcj6i8BbEv1DnXo32xRVrKS7Y8dnLF-QfJOVhb-rVEGhbU0-TnFtQW3qA/s1600/Creature+of+Faith+wm2.jpg" height="400" width="348" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This lady was inspired by all of the beautiful, colorful, and, sometimes, silver-plated representations of Mary that I saw in the churches while I was in Venice.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mary has always been a comforting figure to me. I love seeing her standing calmly in the yards of family homes in my neighborhood. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The title is about faith in all things good, including the good in one's self.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
An 8x10" print of "Creature of faith" is now available in my <a href="http://amandaatkins.etsy.com/">etsy shop</a>. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hope you're all having a beautiful end to June!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
xo, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-7152712838864909332014-05-25T19:55:00.002-05:002014-05-25T19:55:42.778-05:00Burlap Ladies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30buaeDIBhRylOzs-duEC7sp8aqUnxUpg7nGoLFYD0L8A9MPMcGcKvQzC-NTm4gELwnxyKuYF43a-9g8HILXm5ZTB0H_O6HtyDIM0oeCXpsgJsTK0QLayehzWTSyygTLlimbVyclZlEsi/s1600/IMG_9376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30buaeDIBhRylOzs-duEC7sp8aqUnxUpg7nGoLFYD0L8A9MPMcGcKvQzC-NTm4gELwnxyKuYF43a-9g8HILXm5ZTB0H_O6HtyDIM0oeCXpsgJsTK0QLayehzWTSyygTLlimbVyclZlEsi/s1600/IMG_9376.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week, I painted three ladies on 8x10" burlap-wrapped flat-board canvas. It was so much fun to experiment with new materials! I love the texture of the burlap. All three originals are listed in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/amandaatkins">my etsy shop</a> (frame not included). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRI15wWsJWRj5yr_wdJ8R4wAlZZ-_x9y90JtytM1SSaWL3nBumCJ6RjP3tW8sim2kC8Y7HjnVfBdXu2qGfkleiYhy1JJxRFSbiVjdZ7akhv0cuwY5NH_mWHTppWk_X3ysV5qhhyphenhyphenMufWav/s1600/IMG_9380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRI15wWsJWRj5yr_wdJ8R4wAlZZ-_x9y90JtytM1SSaWL3nBumCJ6RjP3tW8sim2kC8Y7HjnVfBdXu2qGfkleiYhy1JJxRFSbiVjdZ7akhv0cuwY5NH_mWHTppWk_X3ysV5qhhyphenhyphenMufWav/s1600/IMG_9380.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/190218049/1950s-mermaid-vintage-inspired-8x10?">1950s Mermaid Burlap Original</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJ-5lAIe-W2mAEk1teD20vxGM6L-XMSD_sPe2YY7ehp2nHUaywRxObc0jHvu8dwID-ofTTeqHXACYpq3OYFKRf_Nx7LURG6Sf-eXgU6AXvPNM8-wBpPp0gvx9bFivBq134JWWgS3iUmsJ/s1600/IMG_9381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJ-5lAIe-W2mAEk1teD20vxGM6L-XMSD_sPe2YY7ehp2nHUaywRxObc0jHvu8dwID-ofTTeqHXACYpq3OYFKRf_Nx7LURG6Sf-eXgU6AXvPNM8-wBpPp0gvx9bFivBq134JWWgS3iUmsJ/s1600/IMG_9381.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/190212354/ballerina-vintage-inspired-8x10-painting?ref=shop_home_active_6">Ballerina Burlap Original</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5qf9yUdS-SsldKKBGRl0Qxm144IQ4jiCkA_RAAqPam6lwBaikPSio7pDmFG2Ka_KMUyEds0gENpIzFhxV__Yca29N7braLvz8qXO2nWh_gPYeoM3HYwlEnr2vj0d0LjnW4zeQeWFoQWe/s1600/IMG_9382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5qf9yUdS-SsldKKBGRl0Qxm144IQ4jiCkA_RAAqPam6lwBaikPSio7pDmFG2Ka_KMUyEds0gENpIzFhxV__Yca29N7braLvz8qXO2nWh_gPYeoM3HYwlEnr2vj0d0LjnW4zeQeWFoQWe/s1600/IMG_9382.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/190211878/much-luck-vintage-inspired-8x10-portrait?">Much Luck Burlap Original</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hope you're all having a lovely weekend! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
xo, Amanda</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-14884010713987453792014-04-23T20:26:00.002-05:002014-04-23T20:36:37.186-05:00To Flannery and to peacocks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprxv_UoJgwdCnTkXMnPqjlNipZhSxJMKWcdRx69gxyiVcpTFXsnZAvOSHDvmd9q5kODlzDMF9qq-Pn8qL4Mi8aGjVQbNCEsjJtaVt6HlKfk9k5IiviulKiPHaPlqiysFsEk_mRsNaddTa/s1600/Flannery+Wm1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprxv_UoJgwdCnTkXMnPqjlNipZhSxJMKWcdRx69gxyiVcpTFXsnZAvOSHDvmd9q5kODlzDMF9qq-Pn8qL4Mi8aGjVQbNCEsjJtaVt6HlKfk9k5IiviulKiPHaPlqiysFsEk_mRsNaddTa/s1600/Flannery+Wm1.jpg" height="400" width="318" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I recently completed a commission that was a lot of fun for me - a portrait of the Southern writer Flannery O'Connor. I'm ashamed to say I have never read her writing, though years ago when I worked at a bookstore there was a beautiful volume of her stories with a large graphic of a peacock feather on the cover, and I was always tempted to buy it. The brief description of the stories' contents on the back cover struck me as a little dark, and that is what kept me at bay.<br />
While working on this piece and researching Flannery, I learned that she felt her critics sorely misinterpreted her in this way, and that she did not feel her work to be as dark as it was made out to be. Knowing what these stories are about, and knowing that Flannery did not perceive them to be as dark as most interpreted, makes me want to read them now - to see what softness they reveal and to read more deeply past their plots.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3yzWUOC92NjyKPFix5BJ0IZZARpdTVzHRLaH1a4RZFoMxmQJccN3oWkX5Gutf2AkjeNU_y9DlGqvIEg7KY7OIB-1BF9IRf7cxCak_04BRLkaQ_zpZmqkGRZ8DRkrk8xw2nhzMeVtr_JI/s1600/Flannery+Wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3yzWUOC92NjyKPFix5BJ0IZZARpdTVzHRLaH1a4RZFoMxmQJccN3oWkX5Gutf2AkjeNU_y9DlGqvIEg7KY7OIB-1BF9IRf7cxCak_04BRLkaQ_zpZmqkGRZ8DRkrk8xw2nhzMeVtr_JI/s1600/Flannery+Wm2.jpg" height="640" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem1CerLL1i-tOob5uo8jX-vohRtMT_lOpMxarnw7D0TwxsPzlBKwPfG4YRn-4iAB0Cu_Z7CrUz6WzofHgXwrrqA2tR8wVlWEQaPevt3AaFD6YpgYLCvmWGxvNoVwyw2bj5wtS9rjrqaSu/s1600/Flannery+WM3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem1CerLL1i-tOob5uo8jX-vohRtMT_lOpMxarnw7D0TwxsPzlBKwPfG4YRn-4iAB0Cu_Z7CrUz6WzofHgXwrrqA2tR8wVlWEQaPevt3AaFD6YpgYLCvmWGxvNoVwyw2bj5wtS9rjrqaSu/s1600/Flannery+WM3.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When I was asked to do this piece, I wanted to honor Flannery. There were only a few things I solidly knew about her before beginning this piece, one of them being that she loved peacocks. Now that I know her better, I know that she faced incredibly difficult times, was passionate and determined in her career as a writer, and loved and was fascinated by all kinds of feathered creatures. For me, anyone who truly loves and cares for animals is a beautiful person. I look forward to reading some of her work this summer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you are all enjoying a lovely April! After a long winter, it seems that spring has finally come to Boston. xo</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-91163980040610679272014-04-08T21:21:00.000-05:002014-04-08T21:21:15.718-05:00Spring Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2Yeos3_r5sgdbLXj2_eahs4DgRahdPTAvq_eET4mtf0vZacjUprjLIlCoVz-ru1Um1NAQKw835A8mYo7ajm581IGji3VQ2elBdG5gQDgsaXCUeN0a45TH8sz2KVnB-FCUNS2zZ1H2t9T/s1600/print+sale!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2Yeos3_r5sgdbLXj2_eahs4DgRahdPTAvq_eET4mtf0vZacjUprjLIlCoVz-ru1Um1NAQKw835A8mYo7ajm581IGji3VQ2elBdG5gQDgsaXCUeN0a45TH8sz2KVnB-FCUNS2zZ1H2t9T/s1600/print+sale!.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Prints are buy one, get one free in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/amandaatkins">my shop</a> through April 13th! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Purchase one print and let me know which free print you'd like in the 'message to seller' box.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Spring! xo</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-33999921849113771132014-04-04T21:38:00.001-05:002014-04-04T22:22:11.244-05:00Noye's Fludde<div style="text-align: center;">
Last week, by chance, I saw a sign in front of <a href="http://trinitychurchboston.org/">Trinity Church</a> in Copley Square announcing their performance of Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde this weekend. Like me, you may be familiar with Noye's Fludde due to Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom. Since Noye's Fludde is one of the most enchanting parts of that film for me, I knew that I would be going. And I knew that I must bring <a href="http://juliadenos.com/">Julia</a>. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvmxg1GQb4F0vdgl4E2z4KEbLv2FhjRdenmRX_nChW1ebB9A6OMo5GXx698oHNBL9gapl29DMFSNtvgBUmbr92PDlZr4FyquVAjLkG8dMxh2FrkT4zDUHYCw09CNni6wjmTxYTbRbi3s0/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvmxg1GQb4F0vdgl4E2z4KEbLv2FhjRdenmRX_nChW1ebB9A6OMo5GXx698oHNBL9gapl29DMFSNtvgBUmbr92PDlZr4FyquVAjLkG8dMxh2FrkT4zDUHYCw09CNni6wjmTxYTbRbi3s0/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+5.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Noye's Fludde performed in Moonrise Kingdom)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXJ2vyllUWcG34yfni3b7_6SpdwbJjb75nS6CqtMVHkv2FS-S6qlJSoK_BOvdFgzT02eVPSk2UU9NvOMR-NU-8rq8l4AAx9ywOPmz4YIuQqqsiJfKmbWG3-SdkruQ-ivvTjAVo4yS6Lp-/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXJ2vyllUWcG34yfni3b7_6SpdwbJjb75nS6CqtMVHkv2FS-S6qlJSoK_BOvdFgzT02eVPSk2UU9NvOMR-NU-8rq8l4AAx9ywOPmz4YIuQqqsiJfKmbWG3-SdkruQ-ivvTjAVo4yS6Lp-/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+6.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Noye's Fludde performed in 1958, one year after its debut, at the fourteenth Aldeburgh Festival. Photo copyright <a href="http://www.aldeburghmuseumonline.co.uk/">Aldeburgh Museum</a>).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71yvvz-ArlKb_kNhFtsuwkIUC3DUtBauUEfHctSYGU4Yaf2jtCmodASOq61kb4Zt1jr-nzVxphZw8Xknt47L2Id0WXG8Jw42v78VJyX-OYq0qSa6DMF31i7jfvBzV9x2zeSz57EzGFlDG/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71yvvz-ArlKb_kNhFtsuwkIUC3DUtBauUEfHctSYGU4Yaf2jtCmodASOq61kb4Zt1jr-nzVxphZw8Xknt47L2Id0WXG8Jw42v78VJyX-OYq0qSa6DMF31i7jfvBzV9x2zeSz57EzGFlDG/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Britten's opera is based on a 15th century play from the Chester Mystery Cycle and was written to be performed by amateurs. Britten asked that it be performed in a church or large hall as opposed to a theater.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIijojaCBmBZQDhbwNPi85w5ibxlFMQn9ZsNCHukdJzswaIn_dS3GE2TKFVXke7aUW0EU-dHYIa0OvKIFjoDeq4c5_dTG-OebLPxN5sT2LJjdgadSReWBu2Xc7HRiFWetB4CMNsUQ7RG_/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIijojaCBmBZQDhbwNPi85w5ibxlFMQn9ZsNCHukdJzswaIn_dS3GE2TKFVXke7aUW0EU-dHYIa0OvKIFjoDeq4c5_dTG-OebLPxN5sT2LJjdgadSReWBu2Xc7HRiFWetB4CMNsUQ7RG_/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I teared up as children walked in herds up the aisle of the church holding animal masks to their faces (which no doubt they made themselves) and sang "Noye, Noye, Take Thou Thy Company." Waves were created by fabrics in various shades of blue billowed back and forth between two young actors. The chorus was provided by the church choir and various Boston and Cambridge children's orchestras. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The audience was asked to sing along with the hymns. The percussions and trumpets and horns and voices in this opera are impeccable. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qDrh5eyhiYM3WWnjL57P7l6eWoxr_8JHa8ts81oIst08wLGT6y03Y9Ea2274VSZN-szCp2sNBfhFI8Zk-Dvqq60FV-7LaIrHRGYRm-bJY-0Y1zfvN349o2wmrMC_vJGDhXEKrSh7oQgs/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qDrh5eyhiYM3WWnjL57P7l6eWoxr_8JHa8ts81oIst08wLGT6y03Y9Ea2274VSZN-szCp2sNBfhFI8Zk-Dvqq60FV-7LaIrHRGYRm-bJY-0Y1zfvN349o2wmrMC_vJGDhXEKrSh7oQgs/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Photography and video was not allowed during the performance, but I felt a sense of relief at that. I enjoyed the beauty of everything without worrying about capturing it. Just as it is Moonrise Kingdom which led me to Noye's Fludde, it is by the means of Moonrise Kingdom that I will keep the beautiful experience I had tonight.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sjoTbp7Fv-4?rel=0" width="400"></iframe><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRgebhh4jSzieAIx1e2fDwqw4cX5saCvuGJqGaJERCrMyMG9KgswqekVDVdy0mOuiC_gw1CER6ZWqq2D3bwtJVfI3761OJo_qvbSCR_OQf0kfkeusxtpfsJQtBx3PXZekQccHmsIb7QLG/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRgebhh4jSzieAIx1e2fDwqw4cX5saCvuGJqGaJERCrMyMG9KgswqekVDVdy0mOuiC_gw1CER6ZWqq2D3bwtJVfI3761OJo_qvbSCR_OQf0kfkeusxtpfsJQtBx3PXZekQccHmsIb7QLG/s1600/Noye's+Fludde+4.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a beautiful evening.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you are all having a lovely Spring so far!</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-88753083168114793712014-03-06T21:27:00.001-05:002014-03-06T21:27:40.356-05:00the desert and the jungle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK-PvA27WVGH2ruxekZtKLV8bT98WNOpuQ7jgVcBK9gLmsZGoLyvCodRhLnZ5NwV0emWEErsKeeAJgnB6Ifb8ly1kwAkcQTpuV_xdLmxScRQtmSc9T4u7EEQMFa5f8l6wVw7ubqoS0-iO/s1600/3+new+prints+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK-PvA27WVGH2ruxekZtKLV8bT98WNOpuQ7jgVcBK9gLmsZGoLyvCodRhLnZ5NwV0emWEErsKeeAJgnB6Ifb8ly1kwAkcQTpuV_xdLmxScRQtmSc9T4u7EEQMFa5f8l6wVw7ubqoS0-iO/s1600/3+new+prints+smaller.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These three ladies are now available as prints in <a href="http://amandaatkins.etsy.com/">my shop</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xo</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-50420599316863717482014-02-26T21:53:00.000-05:002014-02-26T21:53:42.447-05:00consider the oyster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are my final two <a href="http://monthoflove.blogspot.com/">Month of Love</a> pieces from weeks 3 and 4:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzRIY-zlXJqKlXsWTJN4J9b8reVKFLrCyk3OfzfHYyQFxwkWDEOONhgc8gbj79gLbyGssanNvAF-kxP2Alj49eKBzTgnHytsas1hxpv0Tpq88FRb16u9q26UuKl9cyHT9LOJliOHQaAG8/s1600/MFK+Fisher+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzRIY-zlXJqKlXsWTJN4J9b8reVKFLrCyk3OfzfHYyQFxwkWDEOONhgc8gbj79gLbyGssanNvAF-kxP2Alj49eKBzTgnHytsas1hxpv0Tpq88FRb16u9q26UuKl9cyHT9LOJliOHQaAG8/s1600/MFK+Fisher+wm.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Week 3: Fetish</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MFK Fisher's passion for food and her ability to describe the pleasure it can bring in writing is what led me to paint this little portrait of her for Fetish week. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Consider the oyster.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJFNzsc-ZZqx0x7kGBZztnbAf78ntV3dJcIVJtk_HWv61c0Aw38PXdkaHTEJSK9Kpi4LJR-NaBXJzKmoS6vz4iiXR39WjZTfs3Dor2KZ-LxnAx9VaiFT0n31SU58-s4wuPOPDId0GH2E-/s1600/magnetic+fields+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJFNzsc-ZZqx0x7kGBZztnbAf78ntV3dJcIVJtk_HWv61c0Aw38PXdkaHTEJSK9Kpi4LJR-NaBXJzKmoS6vz4iiXR39WjZTfs3Dor2KZ-LxnAx9VaiFT0n31SU58-s4wuPOPDId0GH2E-/s1600/magnetic+fields+wm.jpg" height="273" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Week 4: 69 Love Songs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I chose "The Book of Love" for my Magnetic Fields love song. The line "I love it when you read to me, and you can read me anything" has always struck me as one of the most romantic lines in any song ever.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope you all had a lovely February!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">xo, Amanda</span></span></div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-40641526699053571592014-02-12T11:32:00.000-05:002014-02-12T22:14:37.793-05:00the elephant valentines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NoutJsbIgNmqxafL6urU-4bzBjIVDa0pGwZSXYU3FmCRxnK3DgEPaY-Rzx9i8FrQVyIi2YNZqVVoI2Jwt9uBhfNgImCdvSUR8LwYrTLbPdpbKL2ynzUm2KnN9SRPijbTVIkJ9Uz5hRIP/s1600/elephant+valentine+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NoutJsbIgNmqxafL6urU-4bzBjIVDa0pGwZSXYU3FmCRxnK3DgEPaY-Rzx9i8FrQVyIi2YNZqVVoI2Jwt9uBhfNgImCdvSUR8LwYrTLbPdpbKL2ynzUm2KnN9SRPijbTVIkJ9Uz5hRIP/s1600/elephant+valentine+wm.jpg" height="373" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This week on <a href="http://monthoflove.blogspot.com/">The Month of Love</a>, the theme is Favorite Love Story. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I painted this small tribute to e.e. cummings, Marion Morehouse, and the elephant valentines (which, if you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I adore).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Cummings painted a beautiful elephant valentine for his wife, Marion, every year. Nine of them live at the <a href="http://www.nypl.org/blog/2012/02/13/ee-cummings-my-valentine">New York Public Library</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love the idea of a specific animal acting as a symbol for the love shared by two people, especially an animal as beautiful and gentle as the elephant.</div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5417039531582653695.post-63510350532774216302014-02-05T11:41:00.001-05:002014-02-05T14:25:05.710-05:00love is a mailbox of tiny valentines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGAFaPZWLLu4H9G0giX9IyV9nwPERaa-X9Sm9RTtBbtazrQEfR0YwNWnbHiDPUh82t9_nm3MKIwXvrol6BB1Ogi13r9O9rxLRphz3mv7s55fQFm2zz5EUmByJwgTEJaiwj4EdAEeTwrDW/s1600/Atkins+Classroom+crop+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGAFaPZWLLu4H9G0giX9IyV9nwPERaa-X9Sm9RTtBbtazrQEfR0YwNWnbHiDPUh82t9_nm3MKIwXvrol6BB1Ogi13r9O9rxLRphz3mv7s55fQFm2zz5EUmByJwgTEJaiwj4EdAEeTwrDW/s1600/Atkins+Classroom+crop+wm.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I just did my <a href="http://monthoflove.blogspot.com/2014/02/amanda-atkins-nofilter-valentine.html">first post</a> for <a href="http://monthoflove.blogspot.com/">The Month of Love</a>! This week's theme is "Unfiltered Valentine."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">In elementary school, I loved celebrating Valentine's Day. Everyone making their own mailbox and giving out tiny colorful envelopes with hearts and stickers inside is something that still thrills me today.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvlkF4EHPREQ22FVHpfwl9zmfyubRkZt0GjVlrdrnM6Ax4zHH9CsSVnGI2WCXwtVbnieYJZBhAwF5FQodOYsMG2EepaF9XasCq9pDNQEcPJaBvT8t73eEB19qXu9KQh7qzLgYFeUr1O8g/s1600/Atkins+Classroom+wm1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvlkF4EHPREQ22FVHpfwl9zmfyubRkZt0GjVlrdrnM6Ax4zHH9CsSVnGI2WCXwtVbnieYJZBhAwF5FQodOYsMG2EepaF9XasCq9pDNQEcPJaBvT8t73eEB19qXu9KQh7qzLgYFeUr1O8g/s1600/Atkins+Classroom+wm1.jpg" height="320" width="299" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">The way we first see love as children is my idea of unfiltered love. Valentine's Day is one of the first little celebrations of our understanding of love, and celebrating it at school paves the way for the belief that love is for everyone - our friends, our families, our community - and not just a significant other.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oVvpmCK1wUazgftdY1NwweaOOxB4qsnn-b_aqOeNnPZC2cF55ufURCmfF6mjlT-Gk8f6aE4lS9vRwVhyphenhyphenoTNkFKWRFDFSv5M1k40ZJxYSe_g0_AVj7zleNz2Eu30wqYm4t-EzhkYwBbti/s1600/Atkins+Classroom+wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oVvpmCK1wUazgftdY1NwweaOOxB4qsnn-b_aqOeNnPZC2cF55ufURCmfF6mjlT-Gk8f6aE4lS9vRwVhyphenhyphenoTNkFKWRFDFSv5M1k40ZJxYSe_g0_AVj7zleNz2Eu30wqYm4t-EzhkYwBbti/s1600/Atkins+Classroom+wm2.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">I am lucky enough to work in an elementary school and partake in this fun ritual. It's one of my favorite days of the school year. This picture of a happy city classroom was done in pen and watercolor.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTZms87NFf_2W4s3qStDNPeKINqjmLmEdy2izuBxbwGHv9opZEXv4-QBqExoRGmuUVEuWfsWQ5BuvYnlAwIPghGXABUUau4eLiJWwjMmrzXa8DDRQTyiL72kO5bemWxxJJoXv97ByFC-x/s1600/Atkins+Classroom+wm4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTZms87NFf_2W4s3qStDNPeKINqjmLmEdy2izuBxbwGHv9opZEXv4-QBqExoRGmuUVEuWfsWQ5BuvYnlAwIPghGXABUUau4eLiJWwjMmrzXa8DDRQTyiL72kO5bemWxxJJoXv97ByFC-x/s1600/Atkins+Classroom+wm4.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">We have a Snow Day today here in Boston! I hope you'r all having a lovely February day, wherever you are.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">xo, Amanda</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">P.S. - My friend Sam Trevino <a href="http://paperdarts.org/blog/2014/2/4/interview-amanda-atkins.html">interviewed me</a> for <a href="http://paperdarts.org/">Paper Darts</a>, and it's up now! Thanks, Sam. :)</span></div>
Amanda Laurel Atkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09931287254961173956noreply@blogger.com3